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To say I'm excited would be a huge understatement

November 4, 2009 10:26 AM | Posted by   Kelly VanderBeek  

Ever since the Olympic flame arrived in Victoria last Friday I have felt this sense of, ‘here we go!’ We are now (finally) moving away from the talking and speculating and moving towards the doing.

When I saw the torch lit in my first Olympics in Torino, Italy, the sensation that came over me was one of purpose, excitement, and drive. This same feeling is now pervading every cell in my body as I see the flame make its way through Canada - igniting a nation with Olympic excitement.

We are now 100 days from the big day, when the flame will reach its final destination and the world's spectacle of sport shall begin. To say I'm excited would simply be the biggest understatement possible.

Last night, John Furlong (VANOC's CEO) spoke at an event I was attending and it reminded me of when we first met. It was eight years ago, before the Olympics were awarded to Vancouver and before this whole whirlwind began. Since that meeting we have both faced extreme challenges and we've had to overcome them in order to reach this milestone. Although this journey hasn't been easy for either of us, I know we are both poised to shine this February.

My emotions sometimes get the better of me when I think about this winter. Brought to tears on many occasions as I'm overcome with passion and desire to race this winter. In 100 days I will witness firsthand the stage that John Furlong and his amazing staff have prepared for the world. It is on this stage that I’m gearing up to race in a fashion that will make a nation stand on its feet cheering with pride.

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